Deputy vice-chancellor, academic professor Geoff Crisp, said students were asked to defer and not study online as there were complications from China's firewall.

"Our top priority is to ensure that our students have the best possible learning experience and academic outcomes," he said.

"We would rather ensure our students continue to receive the high-quality face-to-face experience offered here at UC, instead of an online version or our career-focused degrees with practical work-integrated-learning units."

There are about 800 students from mainland China enrolled at UC. More than half had returned to the capital before the travel ban started on February 1.

Of the more than 400 that had returned, 17 were in self-isolation and eight of those were in a dedicated isolated on-campus residence, professor Crisp said.

"Those students are being taken care of with medical and counselling support from our experienced team via phone, being delivered food and groceries, and have been provided with care packages," he said.

It comes as Chinese presence at next weekend's National Multicultural Festival has taken a hit.

The Federation of Chinese Associations of ACT has had to cancel its "China Stage".

A statement from the organisation said it had to cancel the stage due to a lack of performers and volunteers, coupled with community angst.

"The current difficult situation has impacted our ability to deliver the event safely in an environment of high anxiety across our community," the statement said.

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The "China Stage" has entertainers performing across the three-day festival.

ACT Chinese Australian Association patron Sam Wong said there are normally several hundreds of performers but that about of half were interstate or overseas and could not travel.

"It's devastating for us," he said.

"We couldn't fill the program."

Mr Wong said many student volunteers were also stranded in China.

"We usually rely on our volunteers, many are Chinese international students and they have not yet arrived," he said.

"Even if they did arrive they would have to be in quarantine for two weeks."